Complexity – Nothing Is Singular
Stan Stewart contemplates the complexity of human life. Like living, can anything about music-making be simple?
inspiration
The Joy of Live Improvisation – #PianoImprov
Live improvisation is so inspiring. Stan Stewart relates the experience of performing piano on-stage with dancing improvisers.
Post Gig Blahs and Pointers – #MusicianTips
Once again, I’ve hit the post-gig blahs. How do we keep focus and momentum at times like this? The Gig Was Good, So… It doesn’t matter if the gig was good or not. If it was a “big” gig (define that however you like), it can come with post-gig doldrums. The energy required to create
How Shall We Sing A Song In a Foreign Land?
Music and musical instruments from foreign lands hold amazing beauty if we are willing to listen. Stan Stewart explores this inspiration.
Photos from a Holiday week
My spouse and I were just on holiday. Here’s a bit of the beauty we enjoyed. I’ll be back to music-making tomorrow. And it looks like I will bring plenty of inspiration with me.
Escape May Be An Option – Ritual Escape
Is there no escape? We live in challenging times. Tyrants, fascists, and bullies too often have the upper hand. But … And … At the same time, there are examples of human beauty rising up. People are turning to community and art as ways of accenting the good. Sometimes, the flood of the sweetness and
Creating Through Limitations – Scales of Creation
I’m supposed to be confined to my long-term project. But here it is again: a brief interruption. Confined Since I was off the rails of my folk song album, I decided to give myself a challenge. “Hey! If you’re going to mess around, at least do it with purpose.” This time, I chose limited instruments,
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Forms: Passacaglia and Fantasia or Fugue and Fantasy
“Classical music” can be interpreted so many ways. Is it an era of composition or a musical genre? Does it pay more attention to form than to substance? I know that Classical and Baroque periods of music are European, white, and male-dominated. Because this is part of my background, I have influenced by it. I
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Clouds and More from the Finger Lakes
In a time of war, I seek peace. In a time of deadlines, I turn to beauty. Clouds My sister and I continue to share cloud photos with each other several times a week. Here are a few that I captured in the Finger Lakes region of central New York state. No matter how many